Big Leaguers Notebook: June 22

Orlando Hudson encourages urban youth to play baseball

 Padres second baseman Orlando Hudson is keeping Jackie Robinson's legacy alive in inner cities through Around the Mound, a mentoring program established by the Major Leaguer to encourage urban youth to play baseball and give them life skills to succeed beyond the diamond (Boston Globe). Said Hudson, "It hurts, it really does, to see the decline of the sport [among African-Americans]. To think that our baseball ancestors put up such great numbers and stood for so much and how much they went through in this great game." Hudson joined Red Sox outfielders Mike Cameron and Carl Crawford at Fenway Park on Tuesday to talk with nearly 50 teens from Boston's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program about the opportunities that they have through baseball. "It's important," said Crawford. "You just want to let them know what's out there for them. Sometimes they get caught up in what they think they're supposed to do and are afraid to step out of the box." (MLB.com)

 Justin Turner and his Mets teammates punk'd Jose Reyes, imitating the dreadlocked shortstop by putting on blue skull caps
stuffed with faux dreadlocks and socks before Tuesday's game. "I've got to get my Jose Reyes on," joked Angel Pagan as he shoved a T-shirt into his skull cap. "I might have to get some tattoos or something." (MLB.com)

 Have you ever wondered what an elbow looks like post-Tommy John surgery? Wonder no more, thanks to Joba Chamberlain. (Twitter)

 Jeremy Affeldt of the Giants issued a challenge to take small steps and actions that will add up to a world of difference. Blogged Affeldt, "You might not have the ability to donate $8,000 to build a well. But so what? Suppose you've got 700 hundred people in your church. Go and talk to them about building a well. Tell them how $8,000 will change a community of 1,500 people. A well will erase 90 percent of diseases in that community. With a well, that community will flourish. Someone is going to give you $500. Someone else will give you $25. Eventually, you can raise $8,000. And now your church can take care of a community of people. You can do that. That's a possibility. A whole lot of people doing a little bit, that's my vision." (jeremyaffeldt.wordpress.com)

 David Aardsma gave his fans an unprecedented virtual clubhouse experience though Twitter. "It's nice to be more connected with fans who you can't connect with," said the rehabbing Mariners closer, who has attracted more than 3,000 Twitter followers from Japan to Europe by posting photographs of VIP areas from around Major League stadiums. "I can give them access they've never had. Somebody wanted to see the shower, so OK, here you go. Somebody wanted to see the locker room, somebody wanted to see the kitchen. Someone wanted to see from the top of the roof." (The Herald)

 Missed the best moments from this week's on-field action? Nick Swisher patched up Russell Martin (MLB.com), and Mike Pelfrey was hit by a silent whipped-cream assassin (MLB.com). The outfield fence couldn't contain Wilson Ramos and an epic ninth-inning Nationals comeback (MLB.com), David Ortiz snuck up and stole a base (MLB.com), and Adam Jones (MLB.com) and Alexi Casilla (MLB.com) both earned their allowance with a little yard work.

Tweet of the Day: "I get made fun of on team flights b/c I watch The Office and laugh out loud! Big night of TV and sleep tonight, talk to you guys later." -- Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (@teixeiramark25)

Quote of the Day: "When I came in back in '91, my goal was just to play hard every day. I never think that I'm going to play 10, 15, 20 years. I was taking it one game at a time. The only thing I was thinking was the 100 percent effort I wanted to put in. That's what I've been doing for 20 years. I came to the park to play hard and give 100 percent every single time. When you play like that, you're going to play for a long time." -- Ivan Rodriguez, reflecting on his 20-year career in the Major Leagues. (The Washington Post)

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.